Mental health

 

In the UK, just like any other nation, mental health has been an issue on most people’s lips. How do we deal with this sensitive topic? How do we ensure our people are safe from anxiety, stress, and depression in these current times?

 

This has been a worry for many in the health industry, organisations, and leaders. Maybe, support begins with open conversations on the current trends in mental health in the UK. Talking about mental health must be the first step towards supporting those in need.

YoungMinds

What better way to improve our world than to care for our younger generation? With at least three out of every ten young people reporting some mental health disorder, it is high time we consider programs to help improve their mental resilience.

The Wise Up campaign has been at the forefront of analysing the causes of mental health illness in schools. The movement that YoungMinds launched in 2017 has produced many video messages on social media to counter how one can deal with stress and anxiety in their school performance.

Awareness campaigns such as World Mental Health Day provide an excellent opportunity for people to engage in mental health conversations. Traction builds on social media sites like Twitter on how this day should be celebrated, with families being encouraged to converse on mental health issues.

Some interesting trends

• 1 in 5 females have reported a mental health illness compared with 1 in 8 males
• Approximately 1 in 6 people have a mental health illness.
• Employed people were found to be more prone to mental health illnesses than those in employment.
• LGBTQ+ individuals are 2-3 times more likely than heterosexuals to face mental health illnesses.
• Those with chronic physical illnesses are associated with higher levels of mental health illnesses also.

Social media awareness

How many people do you know that are not on social media today? Through Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram, people have used social media platforms to advance mental health and discuss issues affecting them. Social media has been the best go-to social place within this pandemic as most people work from home and stay indoors. Hashtags such as #HereForYou have seen people include one-minute videos on their mental challenges and how they are dealing with them.

Keeping physically active

More people in the UK opt for physical activities and sports to take care of their mental health. Videos of people hitting the gym, cycling, and running have been on the rise like never before. Did you know that 30 to 40 minutes running daily can reduce mental health breakdown and improve your mental health?

Staying connected and volunteering

Volunteer campaigns, especially to those adversely affected by the pandemic, have been a current trend in mental health in the UK. People feel good when they help others, and this emotional satisfaction is vital for mental health. The DO-IT Life database has a lot of volunteering opportunities that people have undertaken in these current times. Furthermore, doing things that bring a smile to someone has the effect of bringing joy to one’s life. Never pass an opportunity to do good.

Final thoughts

With all these trends in mental health, raising awareness where people speak out about their challenges in these times isn’t always easy. Mental health is no longer a topic that people shy away from.

Let’s speak up. Let’s connect. Let’s remove the stigma of mental health illness.